HOMME TATOUÉ, VERS 1875

The technique of traditional Japanese tattoo has several names, irezumi or horimono. Horimono refers to tattoo in general. However, irezumi is the term generally assigned to traditional tattoo covering large parts of the body, going as far as the typically Japanese integral tattoo, which covers the body like a second skin. Japanese tattoo patterns are influenced by traditional art, popular stories and religion.

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The artist

Raimund Von Stillfried Baron

Of Austrian roots, Baron Raimund Von Stillfried was known as Baron Raimund Von Stillfried-Rathenitz. After a career in the army, Stillfried moved to Yokohama and in 1875 opened a photography studio, Stillfried & Co. Shortly afterwards they bought out Felice Beato’s photographic collection. Stillfried considered himself as a photographer-painter the approach of which was comparable to painting and which had a distinctive character to it.